Georgia is introducing changes to the student funding system in higher education institutions. The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia has requested a clarification of the legislation. According to the initiative, students enrolled before the reform should retain not only their current support but also the right to participate in competitions to receive or increase their funding. In effect, this is not a new reform but an adjustment to already adopted rules, ensuring that students do not lose the opportunities they expected when they enrolled. To clarify: the country previously operated a grant system where students could fully or partially cover their tuition costs through state funds based on competitive results. However, as is known, this model was abolished as of December 17, 2025—replaced by a new scheme under which the state fully funds education at public universities. […]
Georgia is introducing changes to the student funding system in higher education institutions. The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia has requested a clarification of the legislation.
According to the initiative, students enrolled before the reform should retain not only their current support but also the right to participate in competitions to receive or increase their funding.
In effect, this is not a new reform but an adjustment to already adopted rules, ensuring that students do not lose the opportunities they expected when they enrolled.
To clarify: the country previously operated a grant system where students could fully or partially cover their tuition costs through state funds based on competitive results. However, as is known, this model was abolished as of December 17, 2025—replaced by a new scheme under which the state fully funds education at public universities.
Following the education reform in Georgia, questions arose regarding students who were already studying or had been enrolled before the new rules came into force. Initially, the law provided that these students would retain their previous funding conditions until the 2030–2031 academic year.
However, in the new version of the law, this provision began to be interpreted more restrictively: it only concerned maintaining already received funding, without the possibility of increasing it or re-entering grant competitions.